Photo by B. Shakyaver
Bluewater is one step closer in their extremely slow march toward establishing a dog park in the community.
At council’s meeting on Monday (March 4th) a recommendation to place the new dog park on an underutilised ball diamond at the Stanley Recreation Complex ignited some strong opinions from councillors.
In collaboration with the Bayfield People and Canine Community (PACC) a proposal for a two-year pilot project for the dog park aimed to alleviate maintenance costs and provide a community space, with considerations for retirees and families without children as potential users.
Despite some councillor’s fervent defense of the existing use of the space, past unsuccessful attempts to establish sports teams to utilise the south diamond in Varna suggested a lack of public interest in the space – with some suggesting that this could be a better use of the space.
The idea of repurposing the underutilised facility was one that Mayor Paul Klopp spoke adamantly against.
Councillor Peter Walden also spoke fervently against it, insisting that the community did utilise the space, and that if the municipality didn’t have facilities, it would drive residents to seek them elsewhere.
Councillor Tyler Hessel said that some councillors defending the presence of recreation facilities in their own wards, was contributing to a division of the community, and that recreation spaces should be considered shared.
Many councillors expressed interest in a secondary location, which is located directly over the facilities’ septic, a proposal that their insurance company had been less than enthusiastic about in past consultation.
One of the stipulations of council was that no costs be incurred by the municipality, which Councillor Scott Harris said wasn’t reasonable if that location was chosen.
Councillor Bill Whetstone expressed extreme frustration at some of the councillors resistance to the idea in general.
Despite criticisms of the pilot project idea and debates over financing, the motion to proceed with developing a partnership for the off-leash dog park at the Stanley Recreation Complex was ultimately carried.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
